DETROIT LIONS: Jason Hanson's heel injury led to retirement

FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2011, file photo, Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson celebrates a field goal against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas. The Lions announced Thursday, April 4, 2013, that Hanson is retiring from football after 21 seasons with the team. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

ALLEN PARK -- When it came time to make the decision whether to retire, kicker Jason Hanson made it clear it was the heel pain that was the main factor. It was not contract issues.

He said it was an extremely hard decision and he prayed a ton to make the right one after 21 seasons with the Lions. Hanson spoke at a press conference at the Detroit Lions practice facility on Tuesday, five days after he had announced his retirement.

The 42-year-old Hanson said he waited a few months after the season before he started to train hard.

"When I started working out hard again, all the systems were kind of a go except one and that was my heel. And while my heel pain has not incapacitating, it was still bothering me after all the rest and rehab and things that I had done, and I realized that could be a problem,'' Hanson said.

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The heel pain, he referred to it as plantar fasciitis, is in his left foot, his plant foot that slams into the ground on every kick.

"It was just worse after kicking. So, part of me realized that lots of guys play hurt. I've played hurt and that's just kind of the story of the NFL. I thought, 'Well, I can fight through it, I've done it before.' But another side of me, this time, was really resisting the thought of doing it again, playing compromised and hurt,'' he added.

He decided that he didn't want to play hurt any more.

"I didn't want to have special running exercises and lifting while everybody else was doing their own thing. I didn't want to have to explain how come I wasn't kicking the ball hard today or why I needed a couple extra days off. I wanted to play my best, and I decided to retire because I wasn't sure I could do that. So, that's how I came to the decision,'' Hanson said.

When asked about contract talks, he said that was not the issue.

"We talked about it and I had some good honest conversations with them about it and the first step was to make sure that I was full speed ahead and that's kind of where the process was as we worked it through,'' Hanson said.

The heel bothered him last season, but he was able to get through it.

Hanson did not show any signs of fading. In the final game of 2012, which was his final game ever, Hanson gave the Lions a 3-0 lead in the first quarter by nailing a 44-yard field goal. It was Hanson's 188th career 40-plus yard field goal, setting an NFL record for the most 40-plus field goals in NFL history, breaking the previous record established by Morten Andersen.

Hanson is the NFL record holder for career 40-plus (188) and 50-plus (52) field goals.

It's one reason why Lions president Tom Lewand announced that Hanson will be the 14th member of the Lions' ring of honor, Pride of the Lions, at Ford Field.

"For a whole generation of Lions fans there's been one kicker. That's been true in my family as well when I think of my children and my nieces and nephews, they've known one kicker,'' said Bill Ford Jr. who family owns the Lions. "As Tom (Lewand) said we have collectively taken it for granted to a certain point. No matter how disappointing the season you could always count on Jason doing his part and a little more.''

Hanson's wife Kathleen and three children Ryan (17), Jessica (13) and Luke (10) were in attendance at the press conference.

When the veteran kicker, who has fought and conquered enormous pressure in the NFL for 21 seasons, went to thank them from the podium, he paused and choked on a few words of gratitude.